Greta is a schmick European-inspired sandwich and wine bar on the western end of Flinders Lane. It’s by brother-and-sister duo Adam and Elisa Mariani, who also own Mayday in Richmond and Maverick inside the 80 Collins precinct. They were waiting to find the perfect location, and when a space opened up in the newly redeveloped Olderfleet building, they pounced.
The 65-seat spot, with olive and mustardy tones, was designed by Chris Connell (Agostino, Bar Carolina). There’s a semi-open kitchen and a central curved bar. On one side, find a small footrest designed for perching with an espresso, supplied here by Axil Coffee Roasters. And at the front there’s a glass display case filled with croissants and cakes by Penny for Pound.
It’s all about the sandwiches here. There’s a molten trois fromage number with Gruyere, brie and cheddar, balanced by pickled onion and Dijon; crackling-coated porchetta with bitter leaves and “Greta sauce” (mayo-spiked salsa verde); and creamy chicken with bearnaise and cos. When it’s on the menu, a pesto-slathered beef-cheek baguette with mozzarella that’s served with a small bowl of Napoli sauce (for dipping in-between bites) is a must-order.
Non-sandwich options include baked eggs with scamorza; eggs Benedict with rare beef; and casarecce with fresh tomatoes and stracciatella – a surprisingly good breakfast option. And on the small bites menu: house-made pickles, salumi with Ned’s Bake bread, and a rotating selection of tinned fish.
The Marianis recruited Bar Romantica co-owner Henry Crawford to help curate a complementary wine list of mostly European producers, with the addition of local producers such as Little Reddie, Chalmers and Yeringberg. There are six beers, including a berliner weisse sour from Sydney’s Wayward, and six cocktails (most notably: a Martini made with Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin). And a handful of vermouths are on pour.
Plus, get free snacks (think heirloom tomato with stracciatella, or baguette with French onion dip) with your glass of wine or cocktail during Friday aperitivo hour, from 4pm to 8pm.
